If you want to be counsel, little point in joining a law firm. I agree that law firms do work that counsels don't and that this kind of work experience will help one better understand the machine of litigation. However, what is the point if you just want to argue in court? A solid understanding of various documents, procedural technicalities etc can be gained as a junior in a counsel's chamber. If you want to be arguing counsel, then joining a law firm is a good idea only if you are going to be tight on money immediately after graduating.

I find Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland to be quite quotable at times. This is one of those.

"Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."
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Depends on what you want to do. If you want to build a litigation doing trials as well (which is important, especially for people without legal background, since a lot of people would approach you first on the original side - think "My brother got arrested last night" or "My cheque has bounced" - those situations would be more common, especially for younger lawyers, than "Here's an RSA for you").

And if you don't know what you want to do, which court, as long as you emerge successful in litigation, then the remainder of the above-quote is also relevant:

"The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.
Alice: ...So long as I get somewhere.
The Cheshire Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough"
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If you're serious about litigation, don't quit after a short period of time. After putting in long hours & getting peanuts, you might feel that it's not worth it. It's imperative you carry on. It gets better, eventually. Cheers.

If someone has a long-term goal of building a career in litigation, where is the best place to begin? Should one start with a Senior Advocate, a chamber practice, an Advocate-on-Record’s office, or with a disputes team in a law firm? Which of these offers the strongest exposure and learning in the early years?